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Essay / Moral Verdict: Cyrano De Bergerac Honor Version
“The most important human endeavor is the search for morality in our actions. Our inner balance and even our existence depend on it. Only morality in our actions can give beauty and dignity to life. - Albert EinsteinSay no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Distinguishing between right and wrong is a skill that people learn throughout their lives. Individuals who choose positively rewarded options allow themselves to live with a clear conscience. Those who choose to make negatively considered options create a bad conscience. In the play Cyrano de Bergerac, by Edmund Rostand, readers follow the story of a man deeply in love with a woman, but she loves another man. As a result, the man agrees to help the other man “woo” the woman; these events, although somewhat unfavorable to Cyrano, portray the man as a heroic figure. Through Cyrano's decision to help Christian, Rostand discusses moral principles and reveals that adherence to values makes one an honorable person. Recognizing your own beliefs creates a stronger adherence to your moral values. Cyrano makes his first appearance at the theater, where a citizen challenges his presence and claims that Monfleury has a powerful patron, which Cyrano does not. Cyrano declares that he does not need a boss and that he can protect himself with his sword. The citizen makes the mistake of telling Cyrano that he was trying not to look at his nose, which Cyrano takes offense to. “My nose, sir, is enormous. Ignorant, stupid fool, a man should be proud, yes, proud, to have such a proud appendage of flesh and bone to crown his face, provided that a large nose could be the indication of a great affable soul , kind, endowed with spirit and liberality and courage and courtesy - like mine..." (Rostand, 28 years old) This quote means that Cyrano recognizes how much his nose is part of him. He considers his nose to be a symbol of the values he defends. For someone to insult their nose is like insulting the characteristics that make them principled. Knowing what we believe creates a stronger commitment to our opinions. Choosing actions based on value over personal gain takes great strength. During the siege of Arras, Roxane arrives unexpectedly and the climax occurs. She tells Christian that she now loves him for his soul and not just for his physical appearance. Christian, knowing that Cyrano is his "soul", tells Cyrano to reveal the truth to Roxane and allow her to choose between them. He then goes into battle and is the first to be killed. Once Cyrano learns of Christian's death, he no longer feels able to tell Roxane how he really feels. " Something. Yes. Anyway, it doesn't matter now. Here's something new to tell you. Christian, I swear because it is the truth of God, was a great soul” (Rostand, 147). This quote reveals to what extent Cyrano does not want to taint Roxane's memory of Christian, and as a result he does not tell her the truth. Although honesty is one of his beliefs, he lies to Roxane and maintains the ideal man he and Christian created. The distinction between what is good and what is bad is based on one's perspective. As Cyrano reads the letter, said to have been written aloud by Christian, Roxane realizes that it was Cyrano who wrote the letters and that it was stained with his tears. She recognizes the voice from years ago that spoke to her from the balcony. “His blood yet stained by his blood” (Rostand 168) Cyrano is guilty of Christian's death and continually denies being..